Refrigerating apparatus



Feb. 24, 1931.

H. B. HULL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed oct. s, 1923 2 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 24,1931. H, B. HULL VREFRI GERATING APPARATUS ,Filed oet. 3,71923 2 Sheets-sheet 2 lll/A lllu 1,111

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Patented heb. 24, 193i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY B. HULL, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO FRIGD- MRE CORPORATION, A. CORPORATION F DELAWARE REFRTGERATTNG APPARATUS .application led October 3, 19,23. Serial No. 666,218.

The present invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and particularly to the types of apparatus adapted for household use.

' It is among the objects of the invention to provide such improvements in refrigerating apparatus as areconducive to lower' cost of manufacture, quietness of operation and reliability. 4 f `Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary structure including the compresser pump, condenser, motor for driving the compressor, cooling apparatus for the condenser and compressor, and controller for the motor which can be conveniently located near a refrigerator cabinet and be easily connected with the cooling unit in the cabinet.

A further object is to prevent stalling of the motor in case of abnormal conditions of load on the compressor.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to thcl accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present 25 invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is la side elevation of a refrigerator unit embodying the present invention shown connected with a cooling unit adapted to be 30 installed in a refrigerator;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the refrigerator unit shown in Fig. 1; y

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view on a reduced ascale showing a modified form of arrangement of the condenser coil;

Fig. 4 is a View, partly in section, of the compressor and pump, the section being taken on the line 4 4 ofFig. 2;

' Fig. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on theline 6-6 of Figul.

Refrigerator emit Referring to the drawings, the refrigerator unit includes va bench'20 including a top' the platform 21 there is mounted a com 50 presser-pump 23, the shaft of which carries a flywheel 24 provided with a belt groove 25 for receiving a belt 2G which is connected with a pulley 27 operated by an electric molor 28 also mounted upon the platform 21. The opening 29 in platform 21 receives a portion of the pulley and the belt 26. Protection against the pulleys and belt is afforded bymeans of a wire mesh screen or pulley guard 30 secured by brackets 31 to the platform 21.

The platform 21 is provided with holes 33 and 34 through which extend, respectively, externally threaded inlet pipe 35 and externally threaded outlet pipe 3G connected with a receiver' 37. Nuts 39 and 40 cooperate with the threaded members 35 and 36, respectively, and with the upper surface of the platform 21 in order that the receiver 37 may be supported from the underside of the platform 21 by its inlet and outlet pipes. The pipe 35 is connected with a T 42 to which two condenser coils 43 and 44 are connected in parallel. The other ends of the coils are connected with a T45 connected with a pump 23 in the manner to be described.

The coils are supported above the platform 21 by means of brackets 46, clamping bars 47 and clamping bolts 4S. With each bracket 46 there is associated a bar 47 and a plurality ticable adjacent the opposite sides of the, pump and close to the flywheel 24 which in-v cludes fan blades 50 for the purpose of directing cooling air over the coils 43 and 44 and fover the cooling ribs or fins on the compressorpump cylinder.

The receiver outlet pipe 36 is connected with a fitting 51 provided with a shut-olf valve 52 having an outlet 53 connected with a high pressure pipe line 54 connected with the cooling unit 55 which in turn is connected by a low pressure pipe line 5G with a couplingf57 connected by pipe 58 with the inlet of the compressor.

The cooling unit 55 may be of a type adapted to be installed as a substitute for an ice cake in a refrigerator cabinet of the 4ice re-v frigerator type. Such a cooling unit is` described and claimed in copending application of Jesse Gr. King, Serial'No. 666,257 led Octo-A ber 3, 1923. v l

The coupling 57 also connects a control pipe line 60 leading to a switch controller 61 with the pipe `56and pipe 58. The motor 28 is l v connected with a current source by means of la wire 62 and byV means of wire4 63 connected with the controller switch 61 and by means of wire 64 connecting the switch 61 with the cur'- rent source. The controller 61 isnot of itself a part of the present invention but is described and claimed inthe copending application of Jesse G. King, ,Serial'Nd 677,137,

vfiled November 26, 1923. l

For the understanding of the present in-- nect the motor from the current source to stop' the operation of the pump. While the pump is idle the refrigerant will evaporate in the cooling'unit 55 until the pressure in pipe 60 increases again to a point where the motor i' will begin operation. Thus the cycle of operation is repeated automatically.. I

From the foregoing it is apparent that there is provided a refrigerant unit which is ex- .ceedingly simple in construction, compact in arrangement and maybe installed in a v ery facile manner. The' installation requires merely the connection of thewires'62 and 64 with the electrical service wires in the building in which the unit is installed, and the only pipes to be connected are pipes 54 and 56 which lead to the c aoling unit 55.

Instead of providing two condenser coils in parallel relation, one coil could be used in series with the pump outlet and the receiver inlet. In Fig. 3, coil is shown having a. somewhat C-shaped contour .in plan view. Each turn of the coil leads around three sides of the pump and thendoubles back on itself so that each turn of the coil includes two substantially C-shaped portions 71 and .72 as viewed in Fig. which merge into one another adjacent the flywheel fan 24. Such an arrangement of condenser coils will also take advantage of the cooling air issuing from the flywheel fan toward the compressor.

onstructz'on of compressor-pump l The compressor-pump, which has been designated in its entirety by numeral 23, includes a base provided with a crankcase 81 which in. turn is provided with bearings block 85 including two cylinders 86 and 87 I within which reciprocate pistons 88 .and 89, Y

respectively, associated with eccentric straps 90 and-91, respectively, with eccentrics 92y and 93 having'a common hub 94 attached to shaft 84. The cylinder block is provided with cooling ribs or fins 95 located in a path` of air'issuing from the flywheel fan 24.. The bearing; 83 is closed at its outer end by lplug 96. The bearing'82 is sealed by a ground sylphon seal including a shoulder portion 97 of shaft 84,'a washer 98 soldered toa collapsible metal sleevel or sylphon 99 which is soldered to washer 100,. A washer 101 is located between the shoulder 97 and the washer 98 and the surfaces yof members 97, 98, and 101 are ground to insurea good mechanical joint.- AThese members are maintained in 'engagement -by means of a sprin 102 which is clamped in operative position y means of a flange member 103 secured in position by bolts .104 threaded into flanges 105 extending from the bearing 82.' Member 103 clamps washer 100 against the crankcase 81.

The'outer end of shaft 84 is tapered at 106 to receive the correspondingly tapered bore in hub 107 of flywheel fan 24. The hub 107 is keyed to the tapered portion 106 and is held in position Vby means of a nut 108 engaging the threaded end of the shaft 84. A nut 109 engages the threaded end of the hub 107 for the purpose of assisting to prevent accidental removal of the nut 108. y

The pulley groove 25 in the flywheel 24 is wider than but not so deep as the belt 26 which is keystone in shape as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.. Therefore, driving engagement is provided by the inner surface of the belt engaging the bottom surface of the groove 25. Referring to Fig. 6, the notch -provided in the motor pulley 27 is of such a width and v shape that driving engagement is with the sides of the belt 26 and not through the inner surface of the belt. This arrangement of the belt with the pulleys 27 and 2li-provides that in case'the compressor pump should stick, the motor may keep on operating, since the belt 26 may slip in the belt groove 25 with respect to the flywheel 24 or may slip off the flywheel. The distance between the motor 28 andthe pump 23 may be adjusted in order to vary the tension of the belt 26, and the motor 28 may be held in adjusted position by means of bolts 110 which pass through elongated openings 111 in the motor legs 112, and having threaded engagement with the platform 21. The belt 26 can be adjusted to provide for driving the pump by the moor 28 under normal conditions, but under abnormal conditions, such as sticking of the pump, themotor will not be stalled but will be free to operate until the current is turned meeste The compressor-pump, piston and valve construction is shown more fully in Fig. 5. Each of the pistons, such as piston 88, is provided with an inlet port adapted to be closed by a valve 12() provided by a sleeve 121 slidable within the piston. The sleeve 1,21 is provided with apertured bosses 122 for receiving a hollow wrist pin 123 which passes through a bearing 124 provided in the upper end of one ofthe eccentric strapssuch as 90. Hole 125 in the end 124'and holes 126 and Vcentral hole 127 are provided in the wrist pin 123 in order to provide for lubrication. Oil shown at the level 128 (Fig. 4) within the crankcase 121 will be splashed by the Aoperation of moving parts to luhricate the walls of the cylinders, and oil will be splashed within the sleeve 121 and will find its wa through the apertures 125 and 126 for lubricating the wrist pin bearing.

In order to prevent turning of the wrist pin within the sleeve bosses 122, the pin is notched at 129 and 130. Before the sleeve 121 is assembled within the piston, the eccen tric strap 90 is inserted within the sleeve and the wrist pin 123 is inserted in position shown in Fig. 5. Then headed nails 131 and 132 are driven through previously provided holes diagonally through the sleeve bosses 122 until the heads of the nails are .received by the "notches 129 and 130. The ends of the nails are then clinched over the lower side of the bosses 122 as shown in Fig. 5. In this manner the nails are secured permanently in position and the heads of the nails serve to prevent turning of the 4wrist pin 123 with respect to the sleeve 12,1. Then the pistons 88 and 89 are assembled over the sleeve. Y

-The movement of the sleeve 121 with respect to its piston is limited by means of a retaining ring 133 which supports a washer of bakelized linen 134. The ring 133 is held in position by means of a band split ring 135 cooperating with a suitable groove provided on the interior of the piston. The dimensions of the parts are such as to permit a limited amount of movement of the sleeve with respect toits piston in order to permit of a certain opening of the valve 120 as shown at 12Go in Fig. 5, the piston 89 being in down- Ward position and its inlet port being open. The purpose of the ring 134 is to eliminate noise which might occur at the instant the sleeve engages the piston on its ldownward stroke. Since the lower edge of the sleeve 121 strikes against fabric material instead of a metallic surface, much noise in the operation of thepump is eliminated.l y

Upon the upper surface of the cylinder block 85 rests a port block 140 having ports 141 and 142 for the cylinders 86 and 87. Substantially midway of ports 141 and 142, the

l block 140 is provided with a boss 143, which boss 143. A. leaf spring member havin its intermedia-te portion 146 resting'on theutton 144 and its end portions 147 and 148 normally located over the ports 141 and 142, respectively, is clamped in position by means of a fulcrum block 149 and screws 150 threaded into the block 140. The fulcrum block 149 is provided with a notch 151 into which the intermediate portion 146 `of the leaf spring member may substantially extend; and, adjacenteach end of the block 149, the lower surface thereof is provided with curved portions 153 and 154 adapted to be engaged by the leaf spring ends 147 and 148 respectively and to provide for the bendinfT of these leaf spring ends about surfaces of.J such gradual curvature that the spring ends 147 and 148 may be subjected to a rapid bending action with very little wear. These springends 147 and 148 provide valves fr the ports 141 and 142. To reduce vibration of valves 147 and 148 when gas is passing, there is provided a buffer spring ,160 having hooked ends 161 and 162 located in the path of movement of` said valves. When gas only is passing the valves will be partly opened. Contact with ends 161 and 162 reduces vibration of the valves and objectionable noise. However, the spring ends 161 and 162 permit the valves to be opened wider in case liquid passes the valves.

Upon the port block 140 there is located a cylinder block head 170 having a recess 171 for receiving the outlet valve mechanism just described and provided with an outlet passage 172 in alinement with an outlet passage in the coupling member 173 with which the T 45 is connected. The coupling member 173 is provided with a shut-oif valve 174 and is attached to the cylinder head 170 by screws 175. Screws 176 secure the head 17 0 and the port block 140 to the cylinder block 85.

Thile the form of mechanism herein shown and described constitutes a preferred embodiment of one form of the invention, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted and various changes and alterations made in the shape, size and proportion of the elements therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A refrigerator unit comprising, in com bination, a platform, a condenser and a compressor mounted upon the platform, a receiver mounted underneath the platform, pipes supported by the platform and supporting the receiver, said pipes providing connections with the condenser and with an expansion chamber.

2. A refrigerator comprising, in combination, an expansion chamber7 a unit including a platform, a condensing chamber and a compressor mounted on oneside of the platform, a receiver mounted on the other side of the platform, and means for securing saidhaving one end thereof secured to the receivreceiver in position including a conduit secured to vthe platform and having one end thereof secured to the receiver, and having its' other end connected with one of said chambers. v f y 3. A refrigerator comprising, in combination,an expansion chamber, a unit including a platform, a' condensing chamber and a compressor mounted on one side of the platform, a receiver mounted on the other side of the platform, and means for securing said receiver in position including 'a conduit secured to and extending through said platform and er, and having its other end connected with one of said chambers.

4. A` refrigerator unit comprising, in combination, a compressorhaving a drive shaft,

.a condenser including loops substantially C-shaped in contour including portions extending on` opposite sides of the shaft .and adjacent opposite sides of the compressor and a laterally extending portiondisposed at the end of the shaft and connecting said other portions, and a fan on the other end of the shaftrfor circulating airby said compressor and oversaid oppositely and laterally extending condenser portions.

5. A refrigerator unit comprising, in combination, a compressor having a drive shaft, a condenser including loops substantially C-A shaped in contour and having portions extending on opposite sides of the shaft adjacent opposite' sides of the compressor and a laterally extending portion disposed at the end of the shaft, and a fan on the shaft for circulating air by said compressor and over said oppositely and laterally extendingcondenser portions.

6. A refrigerator unit comprising, in coml bination, a platform, acompressor carried bythe platform and having a drive shaft` a con-4 1 denser mounted onthe platform and disposed f on one side of said shaft and adjacent said.

. compressor, a pulley guard transversely dis- I `the motor and said pulley.

7. A refrigerator unit comprising, in coinbination, a compressor having a drive shaft, a-condenser connected with the compressor j and including a plurality of pipe turns disposed on opposite sides of the drive shaft and adjacent said compressor, a pulley guard -transversely disposed with respect to said drive shaft, a pulley carried byl said drive` 'shaft for driving the latter and disposed whereby the compressor and condenser are located on one side thereof and the guard on the other side, said compressor and condenser being disposed adjacent said pulley and said pulley having blades for circulating air about ,the compressor and said condenser, a motor and driving connections between the motor and said pulley. K

8. A refrigerator unit comprising, in combination, a compressor having a drive shaft, a condenser coil disposed on one side of the shaft and adjacent said compressor, 'a pulley carried by said drive shaft for driving the latter, one end of said compressor and one end of the loops of said coil being disposed adjacent the pulley, said pulley having blades for circulating air about the compressor and condenser coil, a motor and driving connections between the motor and said pulley.

pressor and condenser, a motor, and drivingv connections between the motor and said pulley. "f l '10. A refrigerator unit comprising, in com.-

bination, a compressor having a drive shaft a driving motor, a fan type pulley carried by said drive shaft, a relatively, small pulley carried by the motor, driving means between the pulleys, and a condenser connected with the compressor and, .disposed with said compressor on one side of and adjacent said fan pulley, the overall dimensions of the portions of the compressor and condenser lying adjacent said fan pulley `being substantially the same as the diameter of said fan pulley.

11. A refrigerator unit comprising, in combination, a compressor having a drive shaft, a driving motor, a fan type pulley carried by said drive shaft, a relatively small pulley carried by the motor, driving means between the pulleys, and a condenser connected with the compressor and including coil portions disposed on opposite sides of the compressor shaft andv disposed ywith said compressor on one side of and adjacent said fan pulley, the overall dimensions of the coil portions and the compressorportion lying adjacent said fan portion disposed on lone side of and adjacent the Acompressor and a' portion extending parallel with the plane of the fan and connected with said U-shaped portion, and a fan for circulating air, said condenser being so arranged vwith respect to the fan that the main air stream created bythe fan moves longitudinally over one of said portions and transversely over the other portion.

18. A refrigerator unit comprising, in combination, a cooling unit, a compressor, a condenser operatively connected with thecooling unitand compressor vincluding portions disposed on opposite sides of and adjacent the compressor and a portion extending laterally With respect to the first named `portions, and a fan for circulating air, said condenser being so arranged Withrespect to the fan that the main air stream created by the fan moves longitudinally over the'irst named portions and transversely over the other portion, the portion extending laterally with respect to said first named portion having a longitudinal dimension -less than the diameter of said fan.

14. A refrigerator unit comprising, in combination, a cooling unit, ,a compressor, a condenser operatively' connected with the cooling unit and compressor including loops providing a plurality of double-row portions, 'one of said portions being disposed 'on one side of `the compressor and another portion extending laterally vvith -respect to the compressor.

- 1 5. A refrigerator unit comprising, incombination, a cooling unit, a compressolga condenser'operatively connected with the` cooling unit and compressor including loops providing a plurality of double-row portions,

one of said portions being disposed on one side of the compressor andanother portion -extending laterally With' respect to the com-` presser, and a fan lfor circulating air longitudinally over one of said portions and over vthe other portion.

16. A refrigerator unit comprising, in com bination, a cooling unit, a compressor, a condenser operatively'connected with the cooling unit and compressor including loops providing a plurality `of double-row portions, certain of said portions beingv disposed on opposite sides of the compressor and another portion extending laterally with respect lto the first named portions. l

17, v A refrigerator unit comprising, in combination, a cooling unit, a compressor, a condenser operatively connected with the cooling unit and compressor including loops providving'a plurality of double-row portions, cer!- tain of said portions being. disposed on opposite sides of the compressor and -another tion extending 'laterally with `respect to thehiirstfnamed portions and a fan for circulating air longitudinally over the first-named extending portion. Y

18. A refrigerator unit comprising," .in combination, a platform, acompressor carportions and transversely over said laterally vried on one side of the platformandhavinga drive shaft, a condenser disposed on one4 side of theshaft and adjacent said comcondenser being disposed adjacent the pulley, a receiver operatively connected with the condenser, said receiver being carried below the platform and near the end of the compresser opposite thepulley, said pulley having blades for circulating air about the con denser, a motor and driving connections between the motor and said pulley.

19. A refrigerator' unit comprising, in combination, a compressor having a drive shaft, a condenser disposed on one side of the shaft and adjacent said compressor, a pulley carried by saiddrive shaft fordriving the latter', said compressor and condenser being disposed adjacent the pulley, a receiver operatively connected with the condenser and disposed near-the end of the compressor opposite the pulley, said pulley having blades for circulating air about the condenser, a4 motor and driving connections between the motor and said pulley.

20.A refrigerator unit comprising, in combination, platform, a compressor carried on one sideof the platform 4and having a drive shaft, a condenser disposed.on one side of the shaft and adjacent said com- I of the compressor opposite the fan, and a motor for operating said fan and drive shaft.

21. A refrigerator comprising, in combination, an expansion chamber; a condensing chamber; a unit including a compressor, a4 receiver, supporting means for the compressor and receiver, and means for securing said receiver'to said supporting means including a conduit secured to the supporting means and having one end thereof connected with the receiver and the other end thereof connected with one of said chambers. i 22. A refrigerator comprising, in combination, an expansion chamber; a condensing chamber; a unit including a compressor, a receiver, supporting means for thecompresser, and means for suspending the receiver from vthe supporting means including a conduit secured to the supporting means and having one end thereof connected with the receiver and the other end thereof connected with one of'said chambers.

VIn testimony whereof I hereto alfixmysignature.V

' HARRY s. HULL.

pressor, a pulley carried by said drive shaft for driving the latter, said compressor and 

